The 5 Juiciest Post-SummerSlam Rumors in WWE

With each year that passes, SummerSlam feels more and more like WrestleMania. While it may lack the sheer spectacle, WWE‘s big August pay-per-view certainly carries comparable significance – it’s a launching point for WWE.

Its only been 2 days since SummerSlam, but we’ve already begun our long march to WrestleMania. That said, the proverbial iron is hot, and WWE has already struck it a few times with John Cena’s RAW debut and the elevation of Braun Strowman.

But we may have only just begun. There’s an abundance of tantalizing rumors out there an we’ve picked the most imminent 5 that could manifest – as soon as tonight on SmackDown…

Bobby Roode Debuts On SmackDown…Tonight!

According to PWInsider, Bobby Roode was backstage last night at RAW. The report cat fished us all, though as Roode did not appear on last night’s show.

However, it seemed unlikely that he would show up on WWE’s flagship program, especially when he could truly thrive on SmackDown.

As fortune has it, SmackDown will be in the exact building RAW that hosted RAW last night. As far as we’re concerned, Roode never left the premises. 

WWE is rumored to be very high on Roode and see him as a “top 5” guy on either show. However, the current sentiment is that he essentially replaces Baron Corbin as one of SmackDown’s top heels on the card.

Let’s do some math:

Roode loses NXT Championship + Attended last night’s RAW + Brooklyn’s Crowd Will Make Him Look like Mick Jagger = Bobby Roode is debuting TONIGHT.

Probability: 4.97/5

Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owen at Hell in a Cell

To say the least, Shane McMahon proved to be pesky for Kevin Owens at SummerSlam. Tonight at SmackDown, we’ll see them butt heads and possibly get very physical. 

Seeing how hotly tempered Kevin Owens is, and Shane McMahon’s fetish for danger, this little spat is going in one direction: Hell in a Cell.

Not just the October PPV, either, I’m talking about the actual structure. It’s possible WWE uses Nakamura/Mahal in the cage to keep the Singh Brothers out of the picture, but this is a McMahon we’re talking about here. 

This is probably a few weeks away from being booked, but this one feels like it’s happening.

Probability: 4/5

Shelton Benjamin to SmackDown…Tonight!

Last week it was reported that Shelton Benjamin officially signed his WWE contract. After a year of almosts, it finally seems like the 42-year old will finally join the WWE roster. 

We can only see him in SmackDown blue. Even further we see him debuting tonight. After losing The John Cena, SmackDown needs to make a splash. Adding Roode and Benjamin tonight would melt the Brooklyn crowd, thusly tricking those of us watching at home into thinking they’re bigger additions than they actually are.

Look for this to happen.

Probability: 4/5

WreslteMania 34 Main Event

As soon as WrestleMania 33 closed it’s curtains, rumors began to spread that WreslteMania 34’s main event was already set in stone. 

That appears to still be the case.

WWE is building to, and intent on protecting, Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. From here it looks like Brock will enter with the belt and doing the honors on his way out of WWE – crowning Reigns and freeing himself for one more UFC bout.

There’s so much noise around this, specifically Lesnar’s contract situation. But for now, it looks like the plan remain the same. 

Probability: 4/5

Bayley Heel Turn

When Bayley made a 3 second appearance in a SummerSlam  backstage segment, the Brooklyn crowd booed her like she was a white supremacist. 

How the hell is an injured babyface getting booed?

That answer needs it’s own dissertation, but we don’t have time for that. Here it is in brief: Bayley isn’t working. 

For most stars, an injury driven hiatus could can be launching point for a great comeback. However, this disdain for Bayley may just be getting started. So instead of fighting it, she and WWE should lean into it. Bayley needs to become a heel. 

RauteMusik asked her over the SummerSlam weekend how she felt about a heel turn: 

“I can. You never know. [If] you make me mad… I have a bad side you know, I get mad all the time. I could bring it out.”

Probability: 3/5